State insurance exchanges - Tennessee

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must make a determination on or before January 1, 2013, that a state will in fact have an exchange in operation by 2014 and that the exchange meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and HHS guidance. In a letter dated November 15, 2012, Secretary Sebelius indicated that a state may submit both a letter of intent and an application to operate its own exchange by December 14, 2012. If a state elects not to operate an exchange, or if the HHS determines that the state will not be able to have an exchange operational by 2014 that meets the law’s requirements, the ACA gives the HHS the authority to establish and operate such exchange within the state.

The Federal government awarded Tennessee two grants to build its Affordable Insurance Exchange:

1. The State Planning Grant, awarded September 30, 2010, in the amount of $1,000,000; and
2. Three Level One Establishment Grants, $1,560,220 million awarded in November 2011, and additional grants of $2,249,945, and $4,300,000.

Tennessee has not created an insurance exchange. The state has created an Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative to review the guidelines and requirements of the ACA.

House Bill 2681/Senate Bill 2686 restricting coverage for abortions without exception became law in May of 2010.

State

Contacts

Tennessee Department of Human Services

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

Regulations

Tennessee Code

Title 9, Chapter 4; Title 37, Chapter 10; Part 3, Title 39; Chapter 15, Part 2; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71

Tennessee Laws

House Bill 2681/Senate Bill 2686

Federal

Contacts

Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Regulations

45 CFR Parts 155, 156, and 157